Center part of consistent O-line

Published: Friday, October 12, 2012 at 12:25 AM.

GREENVILLE — Taylor Hudson has started all six games at center for East Carolina this season.

Given recent history, that fact could be considered a minor miracle.

Hudson, a 6-foot-5-inch, 291-pound sophomore, became the seventh player to start at center for the Pirates since the 2010 season began when he suited up for this year’s opener against Appalachian State.

Since then, the converted guard has helped bring a level of stability to the offensive line that’s unprecedented in head coach Ruffin McNeill’s three-year tenure.

GREENVILLE — Taylor Hudson has started all six games at center for East Carolina this season.

Given recent history, that fact could be considered a minor miracle.

Hudson, a 6-foot-5-inch, 291-pound sophomore, became the seventh player to start at center for the Pirates since the 2010 season began when he suited up for this year’s opener against Appalachian State.

Since then, the converted guard has helped bring a level of stability to the offensive line that’s unprecedented in head coach Ruffin McNeill’s three-year tenure.

“I think it’ll show more the second half of the season. Not just with him, but the continuity of the entire offensive line.”

Indeed, Hudson’s burgeoning streak of starts is part of a trend. The same five players have started on the line in every game this season, working to form a cohesiveness that McNeill likes to call “a nickel instead of five pennies.”

Left tackle Adhem Elsawi, left guard Jordan Davis, right guard Will Simmons and right tackle Robert Jones have teamed with Hudson to give first-year starting quarterback Shane Carden peace of mind.

Outside of a dismal seven-sack performance, for which Carden took partial blame for not getting rid of the ball, in a 27-6 loss at North Carolina on Sept. 22, the line has allowed just five sacks this season.

The Pirates (3-3, 2-1 Conference USA) gave up a pair of sacks during last Thursday’s 40-20 league loss at Central Florida, but the line helped move the ball successfully for an offense that had trouble finishing drives.

When ECU plays host to C-USA East Division foe Memphis (1-4, 1-0) on Saturday, the line will look for continued improvement.

And, McNeill said, it all starts with the center.

“That position is so key because it controls the line of scrimmage,” he said.

“When they’re one nickel either zigging or one nickel either zagging, that’s a strong unit. And the center is the key to that.”

Hudson, who was recruited out of Mauldin High School in Greenville, S.C., as a tackle and was moved to guard, might soon get some help. Senior center Josh Clark, who was activated two weeks ago after serving a four-game suspension for violating unspecified team rules, has spent this week splitting reps with Hudson, McNeill said.

Hudson, meanwhile, has adjusted to the new position he spent much of the spring learning to play.

“That’s where I fit in,” he said. “That’s where I feel I’m supposed to be. That’s where I’m comfortable.”

The question

The offensive line helped the Pirates pile up a season-high 475 yards of total offense in a 28-18 defeat of Texas-El Paso on Sept. 29. What is the school record for total offense in a game?

The Nike approach

McNeill has referred in recent weeks to what he calls his players’ “hesitation” during games.

Asked to expound on it this week, he said it all goes back to something his father told him years ago: “Clear mind, fast legs. Cloudy mind, slow legs.”

McNeill said his players need to let their training take over and stop overthinking their actions.

“Shoot your shot,” he said. “Go for it. If a mistake happens, we’ll adjust. Go for it. It’s not tentative because of fear, but they want to do the right thing. There’s a point where you take away their football instinct — why we recruited them, why we signed them, why they’re here.”

Carden said the directive is position-specific.

“I think it means (something) a little different for everyone,” he said. “For me, it’s when you see that open guy, don’t hesitate with the ball. Just fire away.

“It’s just being confident — being confident with what you’re doing, and just do it.”

On this date

ECU beat Elon, 6-0, at home on Oct. 12, 1963. The victory was the fourth in a 14-game winning streak that spanned two seasons.

Finishing fast

Coming into last week, the Pirates had struggled getting out of the gate.

On Thursday, they got out and tripped.

ECU didn’t score a first-quarter point until an early touchdown against UTEP in the season’s fifth week, so bolting to a 14-0 first-quarter lead last week was unfamiliar.

Quincy McDuffie’s 99-yard kickoff return soon got the Knights back in it before they took control.

Riley said ECU’s offensive players didn’t give him the feeling that the early lead was all that safe.

“I think we’ve got to understand that when you go score twice, you’ve got them on the ropes,” he said. “I almost felt like our kids thought we were on the ropes a little bit offensively. It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me.”

Carden said the collapse served two purposes: It changed the focus of practice while hinting at the offense’s potential.

“Last week it was starting fast, and this week it was starting fast and maintaining that,” Carden said. “We played how we know we can play. I think everyone saw (that) if we just make our routine plays and if we just play how we all know we can play, we move the ball fine.”

The answer

The Pirates amassed a school-record 699 yards of total offense in a 61-10 win at Virginia on Nov. 8, 1975.

David Hall can be reached at (252) 559-1086 or at david.hall@kinston.com.